Everting device



EVERTING DEVICE Jan. 20

2 SHEETS SHEET 1' Filed April 29, 1950 Moryaref T Hora/e9 d W B MM M. T. HORSLEY EVERTING DEVICE Jan. 20, 1953 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed April 29, 1950 Patented Jan. 20, 1953 :Margaret Horsley, Houston,xTex.,.3as's'ignor sof zone-half (to Joseph Woerner, Houston, 1ex.

--ADDlication A pril29, 1950, SeriaPNo. 159-;09

.5 Claims.

This invention relates to "new *and useful-improvements in an everter'device. The invention relates particularly to a device for turning or reversing elongate tubular fabric articles such as -belts=orthe like.

As is well known, tubular fabric articlessuch as 'belts'are ordinarily sewn together with their inner sides faced outwardly and the reversal or turning of such articles, particularly-when the article is elongate, has presented somewhat of a problem. It has been the practice to accomplish this "reversal by use of a lender rod or pencil or by attaching one end'of a string-to the end of the tubular article prior to its being sewed tge'therbut both" of these methods-are "inadequate i and time consuming.

It is one-object-of this i'nventionto provide-an improved device *-for efficiently and quickly i turning or reversing tubular fabric articles, such as beltsand 'the'like.

*It'isanother object of this invention to provide a device having an elongate cylindrical stem portion provided with'retractablegripping'members at one end'with a simple manually operable actuator-i or controlling the gripping 'members at its "opposite end, whereby the reversal or "turning of tubular fabric articles is facilitated.

Still another "object "of this invention is--to*pro videadevi'ce of the character *described, where'in the handle portion may also function as the usualdarninghall or egg.

Still another object is -to provide a device, of the character described, '-=Wherein removable tip elements-of "various *contours'may be-mounted on the-free end of 'the 'device and *may be employed for pushing out collar points and for other similar purposes in' the sewing-of fabric articles.

Other'and further objects of this invent-ion'will appear from the following description.

In :the accompanying drawings which form a part of the instant specification and which-are to be read. in conjunction-therewith: and wherein like reference -numerals are used to indicate like parts in the :various views:

Lfigureilfis av-i'ew partly in section and partly in elevation I of a device constructed "in accordance with the invention ands-showing the gripping members.or:.elements in a retracted position,

Figure.:2;is azviewpartly inasection and partly in elevation illustrating the mannerin which the device is .employed'zin-accomplishing the reversal .or' turningrofa fabricJarticle,

Figure. 3 is a'rpartial view illustrating the device .heing used for threadin'g elastic or similar material through lastubulanhem,

"Figure 4 is a view similar toFi'gure-"l andshow- 'inga slightly modified-formof mountingthe handle on the cylindrical operating ro d,

Figure 5 is a view-similarto'Figure l-with the gripping members expanded and illustrating a ball of different material secured *to'the operating-rod,

Figurefi is a View of "the ballhandlebeingemployed'as a'darning ball,

Figure 7 Ba sectional view'of a' tip element'arranged to be "engaged -'over i the outer -end'of 'the device, which tip elementis adapted for use in pushing out collar "point 'an'd'the like,

Figure 8is a view-similarto'Figure"7-=but"showing "another type of tip element which may be used for'pushing out 'roundedend members-such asglove'fingersand *Figure '9 is --a view illustrating the tip element shown in Figure 8 being employed -'for'pushing out ordarningglove fingers.

Inthe-drawings, the-numeral I-0 designates an elongatetubular body or sleeve having an axial bore II and having a smooth outer cylindrical surface. A-pair'-'oi d-iametrically 'opposed arms 12 extend-radially from-' one end of the sleeve '10 and as shown "in Figured, the inner portion of eacharm i2 is secured to-th-e sleeve by-crimping the *end of *said' sleeve over said inner portion of each" arm. An elongate cylindrical operating rod t3 'extendsthrough thebore I l o'f the-sleeve and has one end formed-with'a'recess 44 which-receives the inneren'ds Ofspring grippingmembers 1-5. The gripping members i-5 maybe-formed of flexible 'wires and the inherent "resiliency of the members tends to' urge the 'same utwardly at all times. "The lower 'end of -each gripping member 1'5 is formed with an'inwar'dly disposed "gripping projection! 6. The rod I 3 telescopes the sleeve 10 and when in the "positionsh'owndn Figure "1 the gripping mem'bers '15 are confined within the bore of "the "sleeve and *are maintained inare'tracted position.

That "end of the :rod P3 opposite the end to which the gripping-members 1-5 are-attachedhas a relatively large ball H secured thereto-"and in Figure l the ball is shown-as constructedof wood with the end ofthe rod 13 threaded thereinto. A coil spring l fl'surrounds the rodandis confined between the ball handle H and theradially'proiecting arms 12 and'said spring constantly-exerts its pressure to urge the rod in a direction which will maintain the -=gripping members in a retracted position. For limiting the telescoping movement or the "rodwvith respect to the*'s1eeve in the direction in which said rod is moved-by the spring I8, the sleeve may be provided with a stop pin l9 arranged to be engaged by a collar 20 on the rod. Of course, it is apparent that any suitable stop means such as an internal shoulder within the sleeve adapted to coact with a shoulder on the rod could be employed.

In using the device, the operator grips the ball handle I! and threads the sleeve l through the tubular fabric article A, as illustrated in Figure 2. The fabric article has been previously sewed with its inner surface facing outwardly and upon reaching the end of the article the sleeve I0 is telescoped on the rod l3 to depress the spring I 8. This operation is facilitated since the operator can merely engage the forefinger and the middle finger with the radial arms l2 while the ball i1 is maintained in the palm of the hand. The telescoping of the sleeve with respect to the rod permits the gripping members I to be projected outwardly of the end of the sleeve whereby the inherent resiliency of the gripping members expands the gripping projections sulficiently to permit the material of the fabric article being turned to be engaged therebetween. Upon a release of the radial arms l2 the spring I8 will automatically telescope the sleeve with respect to the rod to retract the gripping members [5 into the bore of the sleeve, and thus the fabric is efliciently gripped between the gripping projection |6 of the gripping members. The spring maintains the gripping members engaged with the fabric because said gripping members are held within the bore of the sleeve by the pressure of said spring. The operator need then only pull the entire device by means of the handle back through the tubular fabric article A in the manner shown in Figure 2 and a reversal or turning of the article is thereby accomplished In Figure 3 the device is illustrated as thread ing elastic B or other material through a tubular hem C of a fabric article and the operation will be as above described.

The ball handle I! not only functions as a manual grip to permit the operator to manipulate the device but this ball may also be employed as a darning ball. Such use is illustrated in Figure 6 wherein the heel of the usual sock D is illustrated as engaged over said ball. Thus, by making the ball I! either spherical or oval shaped, it will have the dual function as a handle or grip as well as a darning device.

In the sewing of fabric articles such as dresses, there are portions of such articles which have sharp corners, such as the collar points, and it is desirable after reversing the collar that the points thereof be pushed out. The device shown herein may be employed for this purpose by placing a tip element 2| shown in Figure 7 over the end of the sleeve Ill. The element 2| may be constructed of any suitable material, such as wood or plastic, and is provided with an axial recess 22 which frictionally engages the outer surface of the sleeve l0. Thus, the device may be readily used as a pushing tool.

Certain articles, such as gloves, also require turning and darning, and in order to make the device adaptable for these purposes a tip element 23 constructed as shown in Figure 8 may be employed. This tip element has a rounded outer surface and is provided with an axial recess 24 which will frictionally engage the end of the sleeve ID. The use of the tip element 23 is clearly illustrated as applied to the fingers of a glove E in F gur The ball I! which has the dual function of a gripping handle and a darning ball may be constructed of wood, plastic or any other suitable material. As shown in Figure 1, the ball is threaded onto the rod l3 but may be attached in any desired manner. In Figure 4 a rod l3a which is similar in construction to the rod I3 is provided with a flange 25 which is fastened by screws 26 to a metallic ball Ila. In this form, the radial arms I201, are substituted for the arms [2 and have their inner ends secured to a collar 2"! which is threaded onto the end of the sleeve. Also, in this form of the invention, instead of the gripping members l5 being engaged and crimped within a recess l4, said members are soldered or otherwise fastened to the end of the shaft 13a.

Still another modification in structure is illustrated in Figure 5 wherein a plastic ball llb has an internally threaded metallic sleeve 28 molded therein and the upper end of a rod l3b threads into this sleeve. In this form, the radial arms I2b are soldered, welded or otherwise fastened to the end of the sleeve l0 instead of being secured thereto by crimping, as in Figure 1. In the form shown in Figure 5 the gripping members 15 have their ends secured within a short shaft member 29 which has connection with the end of the rod [3b by means of the threaded pin 30.

The devices shown in Figures 4 and 5 are merely modifications in structure of the device shown in Figure 1 and are used and operated in an identical manner.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a utility device for use in sewing and darning of fabric articles is provided. The device itself is a simple and efficient tool which facilitates the turning of tubular fabric articles, such as belts, and which also facilitates threading of elastic or other material through tubular hems. The handle of the device functions as a darning ball while the tip element attachments shown in Figures 7 and 8 provide means which will permit most any type of turning or pushing operation on different fabric articles to be performed without difiiculty. It is, of course, understood that the tip elements are readily removable and are thus in the form of an attachment which gives the device wide spread utility.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects of the invention hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are. obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is Within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. A device for turning tubular fabrics including, an elongate tubular sleeve having a radial projection at one end thereof, a rod slidable within the sleeve with one end extending from that end of the sleeve on which the projection is mounted, ahandle element secured to the extending end of the rod, flexible inherently expansible gripping members carried by the opposite end of the rod and movable into and out of the bore of the sleeve in accordance with the movement of the rod relative to the sleeve, said members being expanded into a non-gripping position when located outside of the bore of the sleeve and being retracted into a gripping position when moved inwardly of the bore of said sleeve, and spring means acting upon the rod of said sleeve for constantly urging the rod in a direction which will move the gripping members inwardly of the bore of the sleeve.

2. A device for turning tubular fabrics including, an elongate tubular sleeve having a radial proj eotion at one end thereof, a rod slidaole within the sleeve with one end extending from that end of the sleeve on which the projection is mounted, a handle element secured to the extending end of the rod, flexible inherently expansible gripping members carried by the opposite end of the rod and movable into and out of the bore of the sleeve in accordance with the movement of the rod relative to the sleeve, said members being expanded into a non-gripping position when located outside of the bore of the sleeve and being retracted into a gripping position when moved inwardly of the bore of said sleeve, and a coiled spring surrounding the extendingend of the rod and confined between the handle element and the end of the sleeve and exerting its pressure to constantly urge the rod in a direction relative to the 4 A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the 6 handle element is generally spherical and wherein the end of the rod is flanged and abuts said handle element, and screws for fastening the rod to the element.

5. An everter device including, an elongate tubular sleeve, a rod slidable within the bore of the sleeve and having one end projecting from the sleeve, gripping means carried by the opposite end and movable into gripping and non-gripping positions in accordance with the position of the rod relative to the sleeve, a handle element on the projecting end of the rod, spring means between the handle and the sleeve for urging the rod in one direction with respect to the sleeve, and projections adapted to be engaged by the fingers of the operator extending outwardly from and secured to the sleeve, said gripping means comprising flexible Wire members having an inherent resiliency tending to move them to a non-gripping position, whereby when the rod is moved to dispose the members outside of the bore of the sleeve, said members are expanded into non-gripping position and when the rod is moved in an opposite direction relative to the sleeve to locate the members within the bore of the sleeve, said sleeve coacts with the members to retract them into a gripping position.

MARGARET T. HORSLEY.

REFERENQES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Rood Apr. 26, 1926 Number 

